November 22, 2022
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Today, Mayor Reed Gusciora joined the Trenton Police Department (TPD) for their annual Thanksgiving food drive at 225 N. Clinton Ave.
Every year, for the last twelve years, TPD has organized a Thanksgiving food drive. Each year, the number of meals donated to feed food-insecure Trenton families has increased. Twelve years ago, TPD donated 50 meals to families and this holiday season TPD is donating 230 meals to food-insecure Trenton families.
Det. Tamika Veal, Det. Tomika Sommer, Det. Angel Turner, and Det. Glendy Peña, as members of the Trenton Police Community Affairs Unit, planned the food drive, collected donations from other officers, and managed the food drive operations.
TPD Director Steve Wilson said, “I’m proud of our police force for making this year’s food drive such as a success. We’re thankful to the many local businesses and other organizations for supporting our shared vision.”
Cash and in-kind gifts for the food drive come from businesses, law enforcement organizations, and non-profits/higher education institutions. The TPD Thanksgiving food drive is supported by the following business entities, all located in the Capital City:
- Campare Foods Supermarket (847 Roebling Ave)
- Fernandez Supermarket (634 Whittaker Ave)
- The Hibbert Group (400 Pennington Ave)
- Central Jersey Paint Company (121 S. Olden Ave)
The following law enforcement organizations made significant contributions: Superior Officer Association (Lt. Jason Woodhead), Police Benevolent Association (Ofc. Mike Schiaretti), Director Wilson, and Trenton Police Department officers.
Support also came from the non-profit, ONEProjectNJ, students at The College of New Jersey who filled grocery bags, and the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources & Culture.
The objective of the TPD Thanksgiving food drive is to identify Trentonians facing food disparities and to provide them with a full meal. Through collaboration with the Trenton Board of Education, city senior centers, and city day cares, families in need are identified and fed.
Mayor Gusciora said, “TPD’s Thanksgiving food drive is part-and-parcel of the Department’s strategy to improve officer-community relations. This is an example of TPD actively searching for ways to support their families that they are sworn to protect.”
